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Anybody think a touch screen iMac will be coming soon?
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You can't make outlandish statements and have the people you're telling these statements do your fact checking for you. Try that in a research paper sometime. I dare you. On an unrelated note, I really hope that you're not attacking a certain community with that post because that would be a real shame.
I rarely ftt cause it costs so much time, but I was really bored at work:
This
And This
This Too!
Hey Look! Another One!!
Almost There!!
Last One!
This is just a random collection of articles that were found by searching for Apple Developing Touch Screen iMac. Google came up with 4,490,000 results, but I can't be bothered to post all of them here. Heck, I didn't even go to the second page - Too much time would be wasted. In response to the article you posted - CEOs have never lied about products to keep them a secret. Especially Apple. They'd never keep a secret about a product...
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Did you even read the first sentance of that article? "Patents are as meaningful as tarot card readings."
And you said my articles were old?
Again, patents mean absolutely nothing.
Again, you complained that my articles were old?
Clearly you have no idea what you're talking about, my fine sir.
I posted the following elsewhere, but thought it may contribute to the conversation here:
I don't understand all of the arguements against a touch display for the iMac. The only one that makes sense to me is that it is a business decision for Apple to make based on the prospective market. For those of you saying that a large touch screen would cause fatigue I argue that a mouse and keyboard is far worse for you than any touch display could ever be. I have two friends that are graphic/web designers in their 20s with carpel tunnel already. I am a plumber by day and an audio engineer by night. In my day job I hold heavy tools and supplies at arms length all day long. At first it takes a toll on your body but you build up the stamina to withstand over time. Same would go for a touch screen iMac, in any position.
I would expect many of you are creative professionals. Have you seen this product? http://www.wacom.com/en/Products/Cintiq/Cintiq24HD.aspx
If they can make money for the niche market, surely Apple can incorporate it into their already great product and profit from it.
Also, with Apple's commitment to those with disabilities ( http://www.apple.com/accessibility/ ), I am surprised they have not already made the iMac with a touch screen already. There are many instances where motor challenged individuals greatly benefit from the accessibility that a touch screen provides.
Just because EVERYONE won't benefit from a touch screen does not mean that there are not those who can. It all depends if Apple thinks they can do it cost efficiently.
Obviouslym the current UI is not 100% touch friendly. The UI needs to be tweeked to work with a touchscreen, but launching applications/programs works just as easily if not more easily with touch than it does with a mouse. Navigating files and folders may be the part that needs tweaking. After that it is the responsibility of the software developers to redesign their programs to be used with a touch interface. However, companies wouldn't adapt the programs for a market that doesn't exist, asking and paying hundreds of programmers to change their GUIs and functionalities. We have had touch interface windows PCs for quite sometime now, but that market is so segmented that most people wouldn't pay the premium for the touch screen. Most desktop Apple users, however, would be forced to buy a touchscreen if they came standard on the iMac. That would start the evolution of some of the software. I can see dozens of uses for touchscreen in Pro Tools already, AS-IS. I can only imagine the number of applications touch would be used for in CS.
As others are saying, a touchscreen iMac would not replace a keyboard and mouse, it would be used in conjunction with those input devices for those that could use it. I don't think it is coming with this update, but I hope it is coming with the next update.
I don't understand all of the arguements against a touch display for the iMac. The only one that makes sense to me is that it is a business decision for Apple to make based on the prospective market. For those of you saying that a large touch screen would cause fatigue I argue that a mouse and keyboard is far worse for you than any touch display could ever be. I have two friends that are graphic/web designers in their 20s with carpel tunnel already. I am a plumber by day and an audio engineer by night. In my day job I hold heavy tools and supplies at arms length all day long. At first it takes a toll on your body but you build up the stamina to withstand over time. Same would go for a touch screen iMac, in any position.
I would expect many of you are creative professionals. Have you seen this product? http://www.wacom.com/en/Products/Cintiq/Cintiq24HD.aspx
If they can make money for the niche market, surely Apple can incorporate it into their already great product and profit from it.
Also, with Apple's commitment to those with disabilities ( http://www.apple.com/accessibility/ ), I am surprised they have not already made the iMac with a touch screen already. There are many instances where motor challenged individuals greatly benefit from the accessibility that a touch screen provides.
Just because EVERYONE won't benefit from a touch screen does not mean that there are not those who can. It all depends if Apple thinks they can do it cost efficiently.
Obviouslym the current UI is not 100% touch friendly. The UI needs to be tweeked to work with a touchscreen, but launching applications/programs works just as easily if not more easily with touch than it does with a mouse. Navigating files and folders may be the part that needs tweaking. After that it is the responsibility of the software developers to redesign their programs to be used with a touch interface. However, companies wouldn't adapt the programs for a market that doesn't exist, asking and paying hundreds of programmers to change their GUIs and functionalities. We have had touch interface windows PCs for quite sometime now, but that market is so segmented that most people wouldn't pay the premium for the touch screen. Most desktop Apple users, however, would be forced to buy a touchscreen if they came standard on the iMac. That would start the evolution of some of the software. I can see dozens of uses for touchscreen in Pro Tools already, AS-IS. I can only imagine the number of applications touch would be used for in CS.
As others are saying, a touchscreen iMac would not replace a keyboard and mouse, it would be used in conjunction with those input devices for those that could use it. I don't think it is coming with this update, but I hope it is coming with the next update.
A lab at the school that I'm currently attending bought and filled the entire room (25+ seats) with HP TouchSmarts this past fall. They are set up as standard desktop computers with a mouse and keyboard. I played with one as I had to be in the lab for a class and honestly, these things suck.
My initial impression is that HP simply slapped a touch interface to an all-in-one desktop computer because touch is becoming the standard. Not even a minute into the experience, I realized this wasn't going to work for me and I went right back to the mouse and keyboard as reaching for the screen was tiring. It's obvious that putting a touchscreen on a standard desktop machine is an afterthought in this case.
Will Apple release a touchscreen iMac? I am pretty sure that Apple has a touchscreen desktop in their labs with the entire experience revolving around touch. I doubt it will look anything like the iMac we currently know. When will it be released? When Apple sees that they can make money on it.
My initial impression is that HP simply slapped a touch interface to an all-in-one desktop computer because touch is becoming the standard. Not even a minute into the experience, I realized this wasn't going to work for me and I went right back to the mouse and keyboard as reaching for the screen was tiring. It's obvious that putting a touchscreen on a standard desktop machine is an afterthought in this case.
Will Apple release a touchscreen iMac? I am pretty sure that Apple has a touchscreen desktop in their labs with the entire experience revolving around touch. I doubt it will look anything like the iMac we currently know. When will it be released? When Apple sees that they can make money on it.
No.... The screen lowers down and comes towards you. Did you even look at the picture?
No point bickering chaps, it just isn't going to happen! People can talk and spread rumours as much as they want. It's just never going to happen. Someone save this post, and if it does, I'll give you £10
(only 1 person)
(only 1 person)
No point bickering chaps, it just isn't going to happen! People can talk and spread rumours as much as they want. It's just never going to happen. Someone save this post, and if it does, I'll give you £10
(only 1 person)
I'd be very careful with your predictions, Apple will never ever release a Phone!
Who said that?
Anyway, releasing a touch-screen computer in anything resembling the form factor of an iMac is just simply not a good idea. If you're sitting far enough away to see the screen properly, your arms can't reach reach to interact with it. If you get closer, then not only is the screen larger than your field of vision, but your arms are going to get very tired, very quickly.
It's certainly possible that Apple has something planned in this space, which may or may not involve the hinge design. But you won't see it at 24" or 27".
They won't release a touch screen iMac because it's not easy to use! Imagine holding your arm out all day typing on one, yes you may be able to move it closer, but would you want a 27" screen a foot away from you?
Also, you can't compare a phone, it's a totally different argument, AND, I never mentioned phones.
Ohh goshh people... this is the same company that said, amongs many things: Intel chips were crap, no one wants to see video in a 3.5" device, the computer cannot go in the back, etc"... so my point is: anything can happen with Apple.
Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWDTy8bgJJw
I know this sounds really lazy but the reason why a touch screen iMac won't work is because you would have to hold your hands at eye level.
For all of you saying that using a touchscreen with your arms out in front of you is too tiring to be practical I agree to a certain extent. Who says Apple would make an iMac that you need to extend your arms to use? I'm not saying Apple will or will not create an iMac touchscreen, but that argument is just stupid. I bring up many points in a previous post (just a couple of posts above this one) that nobody seemed to address.
There is a product made by wacom called cintiq that is used by create professionals that is extremely useful (also not a vertical surface).
Also, arm fatigue will subside after you build up stamina.
You wouldn't use the touchscreen as the sole input, just in conjunction with keyboard and mouse to perform tasks that are easier on touch surfaces.
I just don't buy the "it's uncomfortable" rational. I'm sure Apple has their reasons, but this one seems foolish and easily avoidable.
There is a product made by wacom called cintiq that is used by create professionals that is extremely useful (also not a vertical surface).
Also, arm fatigue will subside after you build up stamina.
You wouldn't use the touchscreen as the sole input, just in conjunction with keyboard and mouse to perform tasks that are easier on touch surfaces.
I just don't buy the "it's uncomfortable" rational. I'm sure Apple has their reasons, but this one seems foolish and easily avoidable.
I tend to agree with others that touch just doesn't add that much to a desktop. But there are other options beyond the keyboard and mouse. Gestures have promise as a control scheme for a desktop, and I think I remember reading about some Apple patents for gesture-based control. The Kinect has proven that gestures and voice together make a viable control method. That's not a direction I would be surprised to see the Mac go in, though I can't guess how soon we might see it.
Touchscreen in general
Hi,
I have an iPad 2 & 3. Great for web browsing. Even so, my wrists and hands get tired using it. As for a touchscreen desktop, I have a HP Touchsmart 300-1120. After the first two days I never used the touchscreen again. Why you ask? Because other than opening programs or starting web or email in that fashion they are of little real use. Word processing..nope.. Try extensive typing on iPad. Wear you out fast! As for using Photoshop or other high end photo editing programs, forget about it! No fine motor control. Instead, use a Wacom Tablet. Not the Cintaque (spelling) either, same problem. Overkill! If anyone really wants a touchscreen desktop, I'll sell the HP cheap. Hardly used it at all after first month even as a regular desktop!
Unkei
Hi,
I have an iPad 2 & 3. Great for web browsing. Even so, my wrists and hands get tired using it. As for a touchscreen desktop, I have a HP Touchsmart 300-1120. After the first two days I never used the touchscreen again. Why you ask? Because other than opening programs or starting web or email in that fashion they are of little real use. Word processing..nope.. Try extensive typing on iPad. Wear you out fast! As for using Photoshop or other high end photo editing programs, forget about it! No fine motor control. Instead, use a Wacom Tablet. Not the Cintaque (spelling) either, same problem. Overkill! If anyone really wants a touchscreen desktop, I'll sell the HP cheap. Hardly used it at all after first month even as a regular desktop!
Unkei
Apple already have a touch screen interface for OSX. Its called the Magic Trackpad and it works quite well. I really dont understand some peoples fascination with this current trend of the touch interface when its actually so limited and clunky. It works ok in certain use paradigms, such as a phone or small tablet, where you have limited space. But it does not make much sense to me when using it with a computer. Unfortunately Microsoft have fallen in love with this touch malarkey and have decided to destroy what is probably their best operating system ever (Windows 7) with the abortion that is Windows 8, but I digress.
Bear with me for a moment. Many people rave about how awesome the touch gestures are in OSX. Are they really though? There are keyboard short cuts for nearly all of the gestures and if you know them, then it is far quicker to use the shortcuts and therefore, you never need to move your fingers off the keyboard. Having to move your fingers from one input device to another is the worst thing for productivity and that fact isnt something that I made up - if youve had the privilege of listening to Dr Alan Kay, then youll know that he agrees with that.
The mouse/trackpad and keyboard combination is faster and far better on current desktop and laptop machines than any touch interface, unless someone comes up with something truly revolutionary (i.e. NOT Windows 8)
Now, if youre farting around on the internet and facebook, then touching the screen and mucking about may seem attractive. But if youre using a computer for something more, then youll quickly realise that you just want to get the task done as quickly as possible without letting technology get in the way. Another thing that people who shout about a touch Mac do not seem to consider is how exactly would you use OSX with your fat fingers on the screen? Consider that for a moment whilst looking around some of the applications that do a bit more than browse the internet. The GUI is not built for it. iOS is built for a touch interface whereas OSX is not. It wouldnt be a trivial matter to change either.
Therefore, I can postulate that there wont be a touch based Mac this year with a large degree of certainty.
Bear with me for a moment. Many people rave about how awesome the touch gestures are in OSX. Are they really though? There are keyboard short cuts for nearly all of the gestures and if you know them, then it is far quicker to use the shortcuts and therefore, you never need to move your fingers off the keyboard. Having to move your fingers from one input device to another is the worst thing for productivity and that fact isnt something that I made up - if youve had the privilege of listening to Dr Alan Kay, then youll know that he agrees with that.
The mouse/trackpad and keyboard combination is faster and far better on current desktop and laptop machines than any touch interface, unless someone comes up with something truly revolutionary (i.e. NOT Windows 8)
Now, if youre farting around on the internet and facebook, then touching the screen and mucking about may seem attractive. But if youre using a computer for something more, then youll quickly realise that you just want to get the task done as quickly as possible without letting technology get in the way. Another thing that people who shout about a touch Mac do not seem to consider is how exactly would you use OSX with your fat fingers on the screen? Consider that for a moment whilst looking around some of the applications that do a bit more than browse the internet. The GUI is not built for it. iOS is built for a touch interface whereas OSX is not. It wouldnt be a trivial matter to change either.
Therefore, I can postulate that there wont be a touch based Mac this year with a large degree of certainty.
Try using an iPad in a stand for a prolonged period of time. Your arm will start to ache, so a touchscreen iMac would be a nuisance. Even better, go try a touchscreen PC. It's fancy the first time you try it but in my experience it's not long until you just go back to using the mouse and keyboard.
That is (1) very specialized, and (2) not 27".
Yeah, because that's a feature I really want in a desktop computer.
I just recently got an iPad I noticed that I had no hand fatigue with my iPhone but on my iPads 9inch screen my hands and fingers grow weary as I type this, I would hate to think what will happen to my hands if a 27inch touchscreen would come out as I constantly use my iMac.
One of the primary selling points of
products is that you don't have to "get used to them" to use them successfully.